Sold in Belmont: Seven Homes Taken Off the Market

June 12, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: 16 Troy Road.

: 91 Channing Rd., Cape-style Colonial (1942). Sold: $639,900.

: 249 School St., Colonial with Dutch gable elements (1929). Sold: $1,381,000.

: 33 Gilbert Rd. #1, First-floor condominium (1925). Sold: $490,000.

: 16 Troy Rd., Cape (1950). Sold: $651,000.

: 100 Clairemont Rd., Extended Colonial (1930). Sold: $1,225,000.

: 10 Holt St., Townhouse condominium (2004). Sold: $850,000.

: 46 Lewis Rd. #2, Walk-up condominium (1924). Sold: $470,000.

A weekly recap of residential properties sold in the past seven-plus days in the “Town of Homes.”

• 91 Channing Rd., Cape-style Colonial (1942). Sold: $639,900. Listed at $649,900. Living area: 1,212 sq.-ft. 6 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. On the market: 76 days.

• 249 School St., Colonial with Dutch gable elements (1929). Sold: $1,381,000. Listed at $1,250,000. Living area: 3,044 sq.-ft. 12 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bath. On the market: 61 days.

• 33 Gilbert Rd. #1, First-floor condominium (1925). Sold: $490,000. Listed at $449,000. Living area: 1,065 sq.-ft. 5 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 62 days.

• 16 Troy Rd., Cape (1950). Sold: $651,000. Listed at $649,900. Living area: 1,306 sq.-ft. 5 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. On the market: 74 days.

• 100 Clairemont Rd., Extended Colonial (1930). Sold: $1,225,000. Listed at $1,250,000. Living area: 3,281 sq.-ft. 11 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths. On the market: 120 days.

• 10 Holt St., Townhouse condominium (2004). Sold: $850,000. Listed at $799,000. Living area: 2,550 sq.-ft. 9 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath. On the market: 57 days.

• 46 Lewis Rd. #2, Walk-up condominium (1924). Sold: $470,000. Listed at $425,000. Living area: 1,182 sq.-ft. 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 50 days.

How does any firm get someone other than their top line executives to move to Boston?

Let’s says mid-level manager Jolene Hightech is moving the family from Huntsville, Alabama (where the percentage of high tech workers in the labor market is second only to Silicon Valley) for a job in Cambridge and decides Belmont is perfect to relocated to because the fabulous schools and a quick commute to work.

In a gated community in the Alabama tech town, they were residing in their less-than-a-decade old 4,000 sq.-ft., four bed, four bath Federalist-style abode on Thayer Street. The amenities are numerous; a formal living, dining room and library – known as “the great room” – with hardwood floors opens to a big kitchen with access to the back patio. Upstairs is the master bedroom suite with a “Glamour Bath.” Homeowners can enjoy outdoor living in the covered front porch after parking their three cars into the garage. Across the street are two parks, a main clubhouse (it is a gated community) with an Olympic-sized pool, “and the neighbors who are all most kind, considerate, and friendly.” It is the South, y’all.

The price tag in ‘bama: $650,000.

So Jolene comes to one of the many friendly Belmont salespeople and says, “What can I see in the $650,000 price range?

$650K will get you this in Huntsville, ‘Bama.

and this in Belmont, Mass.

How about a 65-year-old post war framed Cape – with original wallpaper – in which the entire house could fit into the Huntsville’s “great room?” The bad news; there is only one bath room for the entire household. The good news, it’s inside. There is a chance that Jolene could carve out a study on the first floor but that would require sacrificing a bedroom that was cubby cornered next to the living room. And while there isn’t a pool nearby, the commuter rail is a dependable wake up alarm as it rumbles by at 5 a.m.

Kitchen on Troy Road, Belmont, and …

… kitchen in Huntsville.

Seriously, how do salespeople in Belmont convince transplants what they are obtaining is anything close to what they are leaving? That’s a mystery to me.

The “great room” in Huntsville.

The study/bedroom in Belmont.

What needs to be done is convince developers to build mid-priced housing in the suburbs so inventory in this much needed sector can grow. But all the news in Boston and eastern Massachusetts is that luxury, high-end developments – such as the new multistory towers in downtown Boston and the Fenway and around the transportation hubs in nearby communities – are the only thing anyone wants to build, a segment of the market that has adequate supply.

And now you know why high tech jobs are migrating to North Carolina, the northwest coast of Florida and Alabama.

Outdoor living in Huntsville, (you can see the Olympic-sized pool and two parks from here.)

And in Belmont.

A Decade of Fresh Food, Belmont Farmers Market Opens Season

June 12, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Sophia Ries, 5, rings the Market Bell as the Belmont Farmers Market starts its 10th season on Thursday, June 11, 2015.

The weather in Belmont Center on Thursday, June 11 – hot, hazy sun with temperatures nearing the 90s – was more suitable for a midsummer afternoon in the tropics than your typical late spring day in New England.

But it wasn’t just mad dogs and Englishmen willing to go out in yesterday’s midday sun. Dozens of Belmont residents flocked to the Claflin Street municipal parking lot where a small encampment of vendors welcomed the opening day of the 2015 Belmont Farmers Market.

To officially mark the market’s 10th year, Heli Tomford, founding president of the Belmont Farmers Market, joined the market’s Tomato mascot – this year, it was Sophia Ries, granddaughter of one of the market manager, who showed four fingers and a thumb when asked how old she was – for the ribbon cutting and the ringing of the Market bell.

With a “snip” of the big scissors and a wonderful fanfare by trumpeter Ned Searls, Belmont’s weekly market opened for the season that runs until the last week of October. The market is open Thursdays, rain or shine, from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

This year’s collection of vendors is a mix of the reliable favorites – such as Kimbell Fruit Farm, Fior D’Italia and Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery – and new businesses including Fille de Ferme and Carr’s Ciderhouse, as well as Belmont-based providers such as Goodies Homemade, Leslie Wolf Baking, Seta’s Cafe, Sfolia Baking Company, Toltec Coffee and the Underwood Greenhouses.

Each week brings a slew of new entertainment, from musicians, artists, story tellers, as well as one of the market’s favorites, the talented young magician, Ryan Landry.

Speaking of the market’s success – with an ever growing number of vendors and customers – Tomford said a great deal has to do with “the change in our public mindset on what we eat.”

With young people and families more conscious of what they feed themselves, there is now a preference for locally grown or made produce and staples, she said.

Tomford – who recently returned from teaching English at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar (formerly Burma) – compares eating well to owning a high-performance vehicle. “We have this wonderful machine, your body, but you will not get the best performance if you fill the tank up with regular gas. You need to use the [premium] kind.”

Tomford noted that the market is run through the Belmont Food Collaborative, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization created to promote good health through access to fresh and local food.

“The market is not just for the benefit of our vendors and ourselves, but to benefit the greater community,” she said, pointing to the market’s acceptance of SNAP benefits up to an extra $25 per Market day.

“Everyone should have access to good food,” said Tomford.

School Committee OKs Fee, Rent Increases for Using School Spaces

June 11, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: School lunches will increase by a quarter beginning in September.

The Belmont School Committee approved a package of fee hikes for all users of school space at its Tuesday, June 10 meeting.

The action, first reported in the Belmontonian last month, will begin in July at the start of the new fiscal year in July for facility rentals, full-day Kindergarten and school breakfast and lunches.

The increases come after an analysis conducted this spring by the Belmont School District to determine the actual cost of operating school facilities including classrooms and athletic spaces.

Examples of the new fees include:

• Increases for after school care will range from $7,400 to $5,900 over the two years with rental expenses reaching $29,425 at the Wellington, Butler and the Middle School, $23,406 at the Winn Brook and Burbank and $6,688 at the High School in fiscal 2017.

• A jump in lunch fees by a quarter at the district’s elementary, middle and high schools will result in Belmont’s total pricing of $9.50, jumping from the lower to the highest third of other school districts, comparable to schools in municipalities such as Lexington ($9.25), Dover-Sherborn ($9.75) and Winchester ($10) but still behind Watertown ($10.50) and Concord ($10.55).

• One local organization feeling the impact is the Belmont Aquatic Team. The non-profit will see its hourly rent for the Higginbottom Pool located at Belmont High School increase from $13.28 to $50 an hour in the coming school year and $75 in 2016-17.

Speaking to the committee, Elena Ruggiero, BAT’s director of registration, said the new rental expenses on the 35-year-old club, with 77 swimmers – it is one of the smallest clubs in the New England Swim League – “does seem abrupt, making up from past times.”

Ruggiero said the organization did not feel the school district’s move towards establishing market rents as “unfair considering the very low rates currently.” But she said “it is a big expansion of fees” resulting in higher tuition rates. Currently, members – 88 percent are Belmont residents – pay between $700 (for those 10 and younger) and $900 (for more senior swimmers) for half of a 11 month season.

Ruggiero said the jump in tuition for members will be “substantial” and the club will only know how it will effect membership when enrollment starts in September.

School District Superintendent John Phelan, who described each effected group as “our partners,” said he is committed to a continuing dialogue with the renters on the impact of the higher expenses, a comment that Ruggiero took to heart.

“Our hope is that we keep talking,” said Ruggiero, noting that most teams are part of a larger business – many own the pools and rent them out or conduct swimming lessons – with dedicated revenue that allows them to subsidize the clubs.

“We are just a swim team,” said Ruggiero.

Angered, Resident Petitions To Restore Belmont Center’s Town Green

June 10, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker 5 Comments

Photo: The face page of the online petition concerning Belmont Center Reconstruction project.

After expressing their anger in on-line comments and message boards to a Belmont Board of Selectmen decision to approve a last-second petition driven design change to the Belmont Center Reconstruction Project, one resident has started his own petition in an attempt to have the Selectmen change their vote.

“I am circulating a petition calling for the restoration of Plan A and will be asking my fellow Town Meeting members and neighbors to join me in signing it,” wrote Paul Roberts, a Cross Street resident and Precinct 8 member, who placed his petition on the change.org website.

Roberts said he hoped the petition will spark the selectmen to reverse its earlier decision and call another public meeting, this time “to clear the air, explain their actions and discuss ways to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

So far, there is no word from individual selectmen on this petition.

Roberts joined others expressing their surprise, discontent and disappointment to an unanimous vote by the selectmen at an unusual Thursday night meeting, on May 28, prompted by a petition drive led by 96-year-old Lydia Ogilby who sought to make changes to the project’s blueprints as work had already begun on the plan.

The changes Ogilby advocated restores a small number of parking spaces in front of the main branch of Belmont Savings Bank that supporters claimed are needed by the bank’s elderly customers. Also, the modification would also preserve a “cut through” connecting Moore Street with Concord Avenue, allowing drivers to avoid Leonard Street when seeking parking in the area.

The result of the new changes would eliminate the creation of a new “town green” in front of the bank. Under the altered design, the green space would become an island surrounded by vehicle traffic and parked cars.

The alterations came seven months after a November 2014 Special Town Meeting approved the drawings and the project’s financing package.

Despite opposition to “Plan B” by residents and some stinging comments from Linda Nickens, Traffic Advisory Committee chair, which held four years of public meetings before approving the design which was approved by the Selectmen and Town Meeting, the Selectmen voted 3-0 for the changes.

The resulting comments – online in the Belmontonian and Google’s Belmont Moms community and public conversations – to the selectmen’s decision were quick to come with some pointed political jabs included.

“This seems like a poor precedent to set and an incredibly dangerous one that. I am very disappointed to be so poorly represented. Perhaps if my pedigree were better documented, I could bring about some real change… ” wrote Miriam Lapson in a Belmontonian comment.

“We have a major process problem if a small (and the apparently well-connected) group can make arbitrary last-minute changes to a plan that has been developed over years with broad community input,” wrote Mike Campisano.

“The result of these arbitrary changes to the plan will be to make Belmont Center less welcoming to pedestrians and more efficient as a pass through for drivers. How does that help any of the stakeholders?” he said.

Two days ago, Bonnie Friedman of Hay Road and Precinct 3, wrote a letter to the editor in the Belmontonian addressed to the selectmen in which she scolded the board for allowing it to be swayed by a small minority of residents in town.

“If a change is to be made at this point, a public process must be offered once again; no last minute substitutions to appease one small vocal minority. If this is not done correctly, the whole process is tainted and will be very difficult for the Selectmen to gain the confidence and monetary support of the town again,” she said.

For Roberts, the selectmen’s vote was “disgraceful” as it threw out the window “a months-long process out the window” hundreds of hours of volunteer time Traffic Advisory Committee.

“Their decision makes a mockery of this Town’s efforts to create a transparent, consensus-based, bottom-up process for planning and investment. Instead, it sends the clear message that the word of the Selectmen is written in sand. That even the most straight-forward projects in this town are political footballs to be kicked around and subject to the whims of powerful constituencies, rather than the will of the majority of voters and their representatives at Town Meeting,” he said.

From Alley to Classroom, An Educational Garden Grows at the Burbank

June 10, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Opening of the Burbank’s Garden Classroom with a ribbon cutting led by Principal Tricia Clifford.

On Friday afternoon, June 5, students, teachers, parents and residents joined Principal Dr. Tricia Clifford cutting the ribbon to open the newest classroom at the Mary Lee Burbank Elementary School.

But this classroom at the School Street school does not have a white board, book shelves, chairs, desks or even a ceiling.

Instead, it has a butterfly garden, a playful fairy ring, a Colonial herb garden, a Wetu wigwam and a weather station. Welcome to Burbank’s Garden Classroom, a once abandoned strip of land transferred into a landscaped area that Clifford believes “the core values at Burbank will come alive … where students can participate in activities that promote a love of learning, respect, and well-being.”

Designed by Belmont landscape architect Elizabeth Gourley with input from Burbank teachers and students, the outdoor classroom allows hands-on learning aligned with specific curriculum requirements at each grade level. In fact, Burbank teachers and students are already using the Garden Classroom as an opportunity for an enrichment experience. Kindergarten students buried “magic” beans for their study of fairy tales, and third graders planted a selection of herbs used in colonial Massachusetts.

“We are going to encourage classes to come out during the day and take their learning outside into a different context and have the after-school program to use it as much as they can,” said Harriet Wong, co-chair of the Burbank PTA which co-sponsored the creation of the garden.

The garden classroom join’s the school’s organic vegetable garden, also established this year with co-sponsorship from Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom.

The project’s genesis came after Clifford told the PTA last year how she wished something creative could be done in the “bowling alley” – an unloved, forgotten rectangular strip of land adjacent to the right side of the school – and “it grew from there,” said PTA co-president Laurie Bufano.

The PTA approached landscape designers for the best way to use the land, as well as talking to Massachusetts Audubon’s Habitat Intergenerational Program’s Phyl Solomon and teacher Ben Ligon of the Chenery Middle School’s Courtyard which a decade ago turned the school’s central interior from a concrete afterthought into a lush garden and patio.

With funds from co-sponsor the Foundation for Belmont Education and the PTA along with donations from the community and hundreds of hours of pro-bono work, the challenge changed from planning the space to actually building it on a small budget.

“At that point, we said to make this a success, we needed an Eagle Scout,” Bufano said.

Enter Walker Thomas. Last summer, the Belmont High School sophomore – a Burbank alum whose brothers attend the school – thought he would set aside “a few weeks” to plan and build a community project as part of his Eagle Scout submission.

“I didn’t know at the time how big and involved it would become,” said Thomas, who already was a basketball player, marching band participant and member of the high school’s Model UN.

“But working with Mr. [Michael] White [of Continuum Landscape Architects who became the garden’s project manager], I began to coordinate all the different working parts that would be needed,” said Thomas.

Working in close collaboration with the Burbank PTA since the fall and playing a leading role throughout, Thomas oversaw the clearing and preparation of the site last fall (much done with this scout troop) to prepare for installation of the garden.

After the long winter, main construction finally began April 25 with site excavation by local landscapers – and former Burbank students – Brendan and Steve Kelly who prepared the patch of land for the largest group of workers, two dozen students from Minuteman High School in Lexington.

Enrolled at the school’s Horticulture and Landscape Program, the students spent two weeks working from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. gaining practical experience with the Garden Classroom. The project is the largest the students have taken on to date, involving a full installation from the ground up following design specifications and on-site adjustments. Minuteman instructors Sarah Ard and Peter Kelleher directed the students’ work along with White.

On May 13, the students completed – on schedule – installation of the garden’s hardscape and main features. Burbank families, alumni, and student volunteers gathered on Saturday, May 16, to “Plant Something!” in the classroom.

This past Friday, as students sang, ate popsicles and danced around a May Pole, adults and volunteers toured the site that just months earlier was all but forgotten.

“We’re thrilled,” said PTA’s Bufano. “We never thought we would get exactly this.”

“This will make learning so much more memorable. When kids do something physical it sticks with them,” said Wong.

It’s been a really humbling experience,” said Thomas, who will be entering his junior year at Belmont High in the fall.

“It’s pretty surreal not to have any more deadlines to be working towards. It looks awesome. I’m very happy how it turned out,” he said.

Editor’s note: The Burbank PTA wants to acknowledge the generous contributions of many to the Garden Classroom project, including:

The Foundation for Belmont Education,
Minuteman High School,
Michael White, Continuum Landscape Architects,
Liz Gourley, Elizabeth Gourley Design,
Kelly Brothers Landscaping Co.,
Walker Thomas, Eagle Scout candidate and Burbank alumnus,
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 66,
Mahoney’s Garden Centers,
Martignetti Enterprises,
Wagon Wheel Nursery,
ML Fence Company
Belmont Department Public Works, and
Belmont Public Schools Facilities Department.

Belmont Garden Club Tour Set for Saturday, June 13

June 9, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: On tour in Belmont.

Six residential gardens and the Woodland Public Garden will be featured in the 2015 edition of the Belmont Garden Club’s Garden Tour taking place on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fundraiser will showcase a few large gardens and also some small gardens, to show the creativity that can occur in less spacious areas.

One garden will have a display of shrub covers for winter plant protection as well as information on deer-deterrent products. The Woodland garden will have a demonstration and information on composting. Another garden will host refreshments for tour attendees.

The gardens belong to club members and also Belmont residents.

This fundraiser, held rain or shine, furthers the Club’s scholarship and community beautification efforts. The Club’s Community Planting committee works together with the Belmont’s Department of Public Works to maintain various sites throughout town including many traffic islands and deltas, the Town Hall, the Veteran’s War Memorial and the September 11th Memorial Garden located at the Wellington Station across from the stone railroad bridge on Concord Avenue.

Tickets are $25 in advance and may be purchased by calling Loretta at 617-484-4889. On the day of the tour, maps and tickets (at $30) will be available at the Flett Room in the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Bartels One-Hitter Not Enough for Belmont as Season Ends at Danvers

June 9, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Junior pitcher Cole Bartels.

A throwing miscue with two outs in the bottom of the fourth allowed a pair of unearned runs to cross the plate and ended the 2015 season for Belmont High School Baseball, as the Marauders came out on the short end of a 3-1 loss to host and number-one seed Danvers in the Division 2 North sectional tournament on Monday, June 8.

“Unearned runs will do you in all the time,” said long-time Belmont Head Coach Jim Brown.

The anticipated pitching duel between Belmont High School’s Cole Bartels and Danvers High’s Andrew Olszak – their respective league’s MVP – didn’t disappoint as the aces battled from the mound with Bartels throwing a hard-fought one-hitter only to be matched by Olszak’s two-hit gem.

“Coming back on three days rest (after winning the playoff opener in Wilmington this past Thursday) Cole pitched a great game. I think they had a single infield bleeder,” Brown said of his junior ace, who collected six strikeouts in his six-inning stint.

While Bartels battled deep into counts against Danvers, Olszak – who led his team in hits, runs, scoring and set a league record for stolen bases – threw a selection of pitches that Marauders hitters kept pounding into the ground.

“You have to tip your hat to their pitcher,” said Brown, noting that Olszak, 8-0 in the regular season with two saves, surrendered a total of four walks for the entire year.

“He can pitch inside, outside, low, high; he just hit his spots,” said Brown.

Danvers (19-3) took the lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly after the Falcon’s second batter went from first to third on a one-out single by Olszak.

Belmont (12-10) came back to even the score in the next half-inning as sophomore catcher Cal Christofori doubled a first pitch offering. He advanced to third on Nick Call’s sacrifice bunt and came home on Robbie Montanaro’s sac fly.

The Marauders defense stuffed out a threat in the bottom of the second when second baseman Trevor Kelly caught an attempted slap hit to double up the runner at first, followed by Christofori catching another Falcon player leaning the wrong way at first, resulting him to be tagged out at second.

But Bartels’ fielders failed him in the fourth as a routine grounder ate up Kelly to put the lead-off batter on first. A sacrifice, a walk and a stolen base placed men at second and third with one out. It appeared Belmont had the Falcon player who was heading home dead to rights on a missed suicide squeeze. But a slip by Call allowed the player to scamper back to the hot corner.

With two outs and a full count, Danvers’ DH drove the ball to shortstop Noah Riley, who rushed the throw just a bit. But that little extra push sent the ball over Montanaro’s reach.

Two scored, and Belmont faced attempting to score against a pitcher they had yet to solve. Kelly came close with a two-out double in the sixth, but he was stranded at second.

While Christofori kept the deficit to a pair coming in relief of Bartels – twice gunning down runners at second – Belmont could only get one runner on the bases with two outs in the ninth before yet another ground ball out from Olszak finished the season.

“I was proud of the way we battled. We always play [Danvers] tough,” said Brown.

“It’s always a close game. You’ve got to play a clean game, or they’ll capitalize on your mistakes,” said Brown.

Fore! PGA Tour Brings Street Closure, Parking Restrictions Beginning Tuesday

June 8, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo:

The Belmont Country Club is hosting the PGA TOUR Constellation Senior Players Championship beginning Tuesday, June 9.

Working with state and other municipalities, the Belmont Police Department has developed a traffic plan that will help keep traffic delays and parking issues to a minimum during the

Road and exit closures:

The most prominent feature of the plan is that Winter Street in Belmont will be CLOSED to traffic on the following dates and times. These times are subject to change.

Tuesday, June 9: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 10: 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 11: 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 12: 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 13: 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14: 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

In addition, the state will close the Exit 56 ramp from Route 2 East (onto Winter Street) during the event hours.

The detour for motorists who use Exit 56 will direct them to use Exit 55 onto Pleasant Street in Lexington, so residents may anticipate that much of the traffic that usually would be on Winter Street will shift to Concord Avenue between Pleasant Street in Lexington and the intersection with Winter Street in Belmont. The reverse detour will bring motorists on Concord Avenue west to Pleasant Street in Lexington, where a right turn will bring vehicles to an entrance to Route 2 West.

Marsh Street will be closed for motorists intent on getting to Winter Street, Route 2, Lexington, or Waltham. Motorists headed for Belmont Center, Concord Avenue, or Mill Street may find it quicker to gain access via Route 60/Pleasant Street. Residents will be able to enter Marsh Street from Concord Avenue and proceed north on Marsh Street.

Robinwood Road will be posted as “do not enter” at Concord Avenue, since Robinwood Road will be used to send some event traffic away from the country club.

Residents of Hough Road and Robinwood Road will be asked to come on to Marsh Street from Concord Avenue. Hough Road residents may turn left onto Hough Road. Robinwood Road residents will turn left onto Winter Street and then turn left onto Robinwood Road.

To improve traffic flow with all of the detours, Mill Street will be diverted into a T style intersection at Concord Avenue. Motorists westbound on Concord Avenue will not be permitted to turn left onto Mill Street. Motorists driving east on Concord Avenue will be permitted to turn right onto Mill Street or continue on Concord Avenue in the normal manner.

Residents of the area:

All residents near the Winter Street Road closure will be able to get to and from their homes by motor vehicle at all times during the event. Some brief delays in doing so and parking restrictions on their streets should be anticipated.

For residents on the streets listed on the reverse, your driver’s license with the street address will be sufficient to allow you through any road closure to get to your home. In addition, for visitors you authorize, the Police Department will have a printed pass system available. To prevent improper use, there will be a limit to the number of passes each address will be permitted. This pass will not authorize on street parking. Passes for resident visitors will be available starting June 1 by visiting the police station.

Parking:

There will be temporary “no parking” restrictions on the streets listed below. Some of these parking restrictions are needed because of the detoured traffic flow. Other restrictions are intended to discourage event parking that might cause problems for emergency vehicles, add unsafe pedestrian trips to the event, and be inconvenient for residents:

Rayburn Road
Country Club Lane
Dundonald Road
Grey Birch Park
Partridge Lane
Greybirch Circle
Winter Street
Greensbrook Way
Robinwood Road
Concord Avenue
Hough Road
Marsh Street (between Concord Avenue and Country Club Lane)

In addition, there will be no private parking available for purchase at or near the event at Belmont Country Club and no public or on street parking at or near the location.

For more information about the event from the PGA TOUR:

http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/constellation-senior-players-championship.html

or cspgolf.com or 781-205-2040

Letter to the Editor: Selectmen Fail to Honor Center Reconstruction Process

June 8, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker 8 Comments

Photo: Belmont Center.

(Note: This letter was originally sent to the Belmont Board of Selectmen.)

I am disturbed and outraged to learn that Belmont Center Reconstruction Plan A was overturned at the last minute for Plan B, decreasing the size of the green space and surrounding it with traffic, just because of a small group of opponents. This group did not show up or speak out at all the many public meetings over several years.

The [Board of Selectmen] meeting on May 28th was just advertised as a discussion of beautification and conflicted with several other important town meetings that evening such as The annual
meeting of the League of Women Voters, and the forum on Criminal Justice with our State Sen. Will Brownsberger and our State Rep. Dave Rogers (I managed to attend both of these). Regardless, one meeting should not have tossed out years of planning and substituted an alternative plan without proper notice and comment period.

Over the last several years, I attended many meetings and was generally pleased with the majority of the details for Reconstruction of Belmont Center. But I was even more pleased with the process. Lots of comments were taken into consideration, and the resulting plan, Plan A, was a really good compromise of all the important features that everyone wanted. I am particularly in favor of the large, pedestrian-friendly, green space which Belmont Center has always sorely missed.

This last minute change from a plan that was already approved and supported by the larger community is completely inappropriate and does not represent the Belmont community as a whole. Town Meeting approved money in the fall for the Reconstruction with the plan that included much more green space; not a small island of token green space that is hard to utilize, similar to the current island of poorly utilized greenery.

If a change is to be made at this point, a public process must be offered once again; no last minute substitutions to appease one small vocal minority. If this is not done correctly, the whole process is tainted and will be very difficult for the Selectmen to gain the confidence and monetary support of the town again.

Bonnie Friedman
Town Meeting Member
Precinct 3

This Week: Farmers Market Reopens, Chenery Concerts, Retiring Teachers

June 8, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Farmers Market.

On the government side of “This Week”:

The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet on Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Homer Building (in the Town Hall Complex) to take up a special permit request from Rebecca Pizzi to allow a child care business to be run out of 92 Payson Road.
The School Committee will be holding a reception and ceremony for retiring staff and teacher beginning at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, June 9, at the Chenery Middle School. At the regular meeting, the committee will vote on school fees for next fiscal year and will get an update on the space situation at the six district schools.
The Community Path Implementation Advisory Committee will get together on Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall to discuss a future walking tour of potential pathways.

• The Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library at the corner of Old Middlesex and Oakley, will be holding Summer Pre-School Story Time at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, with stories and crafts for children 3 to 5. Younger siblings may attend with adults. Parents or caregivers must be present. Registration is not required. Pre-School Story Time meets at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday throughout the summer.

• Yoga for Everyone at the Beech Street Center from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., on Tuesday, June 9. Join Susan Harris, a registered yoga teacher and associate professor of Nutrition at Tufts University, for this Iyengar-inspired class which practices yoga postures slowly and with attention to alignment and safety, adapted to the abilities and needs of individual students. Practice is done with bare feet; mats and props are provided. Cost: $15/class. Non-seniors, beginners and experienced are welcome. This is a non-Council on Aging class held at the Beech Street Center. For more information, call Susan at 617-407-0816.

• The town’s new Veterans Officer, Robert Upton, will be at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Thursday, June 10 from noon to 2 p.m.. Please register at the front desk.

• The Belmont Country Club hosts the PGA 2015 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship beginning on Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, June 14.

• Come to opening of the Belmont Farmers Market, now in its 10th season, at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 11.

• The 7th and 8th Grade Band Concert will take place on Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School.

• Well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan will be performs original songs and traditional favorites for kids and their parents in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room, Friday, June 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• The Chenery Middle School 5th Grade Band, Chorus and Orchestra will perform in concert on Friday, June 12, at 9 a.m. in the auditorium at the school.

• The Senior Book Discussion Group will will discuss Summer by Edith Wharton on Friday, June 12, at 11 a.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

• The Belmont Public Library’s OTAKUrabu program offers students (7th to 12th grades) the chance to watch anime, do a craft/activity, plan for future events and nibble on some Japanese snacks (while they last – they’ll go fast) on Friday, June 12, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Provided to you for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Just drop in, no registration required.

The Belmontonian

Belmont's Independent Media Outlet Covering the 'Town of Homes'